Review of Kes (1970) by Alexandar T — 16 Jan 2012

Starkly yet beautifully filmed in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, "Kes" is the story of a forlorn teenage boy and his pet falcon, set against the harsh, unforgiving backdrop of the working class, northern English town in the late 1960s.

Hailed as a cinematic masterpiece in the country in which it was filmed, much of its dialogue was lost on me -- I don't usually have trouble understanding British accents, but the Barnsley dialect is especially thick.

Its message, however, was loud and clear: hope can be found even in the bleakest of places, even amongst the bleakest of people. Unfortunately, hope can also be violently and tragically wrenched away.

While I can appreciate non-formulaic, "slice of life" type of movies that aren't wrapped up with neat little bows, had I known how this one ended, I may have chosen not to watch it, but I can assure you that I will never forget it.

Its heartbreaking sadness is indelible.